Supporter



H. M. PFALTZGRAFF SUPPORTER :Filed Feb. 12. 1926 2 sheets-shed 1.

Aug. H, M. PFALTZGRAFF SUPPORTER led Feb 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ieZJdUZ QQ Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES HA'ITIE M. PFALTZGRAFF, or ATLANTIC CITY, NEW'JEBSEY.

surron'rnn.

Application filed February 1e,'-1926.' se ier-No. 87,778.

My invention relates to belts or supporters utili'zable for any of the known purposes to which structures of this character havebeen commonly applied, and for other desired 5 purposes.

In accordance with my invention, a supporter comprising an inner belt of suitable elastic or inelastic material and an outer inelastic belt, or equivalent, is provided with W one or more padded supports whereby pres sure, variable at will, is applied to organs or'parts of the body, and more particularly, the padded supports aforesaid are pressed or biased to operative position substantially 15 independently one of the" other, preferably by a plurality of fastening devices or buckles co-operating with adjacent end sections of the belt or belts.

My invention resides in features and de tails of construction of the belt or supporter hereinafter described and claimed.

For anillustration of one of the various forms my invention may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a supporter embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the supporter shown'in Fig. 1.

3 Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the supporter illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4; is a side elevational view of the supporter shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is-a fragmentary horizontal sec tional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, B is a main belt, preferably of elastic or semi-elastic knitted, porous, or equivalent, fabric of silk,

ilk and cotton, linen, cotton, or other desirable material. Preferably, belt B lies next to the body of the wearer and comprises two substantially duplicate sections a and 5, adjacent spaced ends of which are connected to a reinforcing member 0 of cloth, a or other suitable fabric of relatively heavy weight. If desired, member 0 may be provided with one or more elastic stays 6 disposed between layers of the fabric comprising said member and serving to further stiffen the same. A padded support f, pref.- erably covered with material similar to that of belt B is carried by and usually corresponds generally in size with member 0. It will be understood that the member c and support f may vary insize within considerable limits depending upon the condition of the part of the body to which said support is applied.

' In a region substantially diametrically opposite from reinforcing member 0, the

otheradjaoent ends of sections a and b terminate respectively in vertically extending strips 9 and it, preferably of inelastic cloth or'equivalent fabric and reinforced, if desired, with one or more elastic. stays 'i, Fig 3 One'ofthe' strips aforesaid, as strip h, is suitably attached to a panel preferably formed from material 'generally similar to that of member a aforesaid, said panel normally bridging the space between sections a and Z). Preferably,"one ormo're elastic staysfllcembedded between layers of the fabric comprising panel j serve'to add rigidity and strength thereto. A padded support Z, which may be variable in size as is support 7 but corresponding generally thereto, is secured preferably tothe end of section b and also to'the interior face of panel j and, ac-

cordingly, lies in a region substantially diametrically opposite from support f.

Belt also comprises the hip extensions H integral therewith and extending below the hip over the thighs, forming in effect %iigh'straps integral with the seamless'be'lt An outer belt B preferably of relatively heavy inelastic material comprisestwo substantially duplicate sections m and n, the former secured to belt B at its juncture point with strip 9 and the latter at the juncture point of belt B and strip h. Section m extends in oneidirection from the front of the wearer around one side and in the back terminates in two spaced straps 0 and p of' inelastic material. Section n extends from the front of the wearer. in an opposite direction from that taken by section'm around the other side of belt?) and in the back terminates in two spaced strips q and 1' corresponding with straps 0 an .8.

relation with li nk s, Strap pji's also I from strap 9 a distance corresponding to the width thereof lies between straps and p and first passes through a flattened ring or linkm secured bya flexible connecting device y to the reinforcing member 0, then through another flattened ring or link a carriedby the end of section m after which said strap is folded back upon itself so as to lie upon the outer surface of section a.

Referring to Fig. 2, straps 0 and p are shown as converging one toward the other and in the regionoccupied by one hip of the wearer are stitched, or otherwise suitably securedtogether, as indicated at a Fig. 3, from whence a single strap 6 extends toward the front of the supporter.

Still referring to Fig. 2, straps g and 1" are likewise shown as converging one toward the other and, in the region occupiedjby the opposite hipof the wearer, are stitched, or

otherwise suitably secured together, as inclicated at 0 Fig. 4, from whence a single strap d extends toward the front of the supporter. Straps b and (Z in the region occupied by the padded support Z maybe adjustably secured together in any suitable manner, as by the buckle or clasp e Figs.

1 and4.

It shall be understood that the mode of attachment of straps 0 and p to strap 71 and straps Q and r to strap al may Vary from that described above. For example, such straps may be connected together by utilizing a flat connecting ring as illustrated in my pending application, Serial No. 87,777, filed February 12,1926, wherein a generally similar arrangement is illustrated. It shall be further understood that sections m and n of belt B may be otherwise adjustably secured together in any desired region on reinforcing member 0 by structure'or mechanism generally the equivalent of that described above.

As stated above, panel j is secured to strip it, in turn secured to thesection b of belt B. Padded support Z is. also secured to panel 3' andsaid section b of the mainbelt. To the endj'tha't this portion 'of the belt structure maybe adjustably secured to the. adjacent portion of the belt; structure comprising the section a, a corset lacing or other suitable arrangement may be" utilized. However,'as herein illustrated, I provide flexible connecting device f Fig. 3, secured toabuckle g comprising a strap-gripping member h. and

a snap member i preferably of the char acter described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 730,145, filed August 5, 1924. A substantially inelastic strap y' suitably secured to the free edge of stripg after passing beneath the gripping member 7L1 of said buckle is folded back upon itself and then extended beneath a band carried by the section m. rrflexible connecing device Z spaced from flexibleconnecting device.v f and secured to the striph supports asecond buckle 9 similar to that described above, said second buckle con'iprisinga strapgripping member m and a snap member n A substantially inelastic strap 0 corresponding generally with strap is secured to the 7 free edge of strip 9 and extendsbeneath the strap-gripping member m of .the buckle last 7 described. Strap 0 after passing beneath the band k is stitched or otherwise suitably secured to the strap j as indicated at 0 Fig. 1. i

Referring to Fig. 1,elastic or semi-elastic :leg straps P formed ofv some relatively soft tensions H of belt B in any. suitable manner, as by buckles carrled by tabs r secured to the respective hip extensions H.

The appliance hereindescribed should be worn next to the skin and after opening thebuckles e and should be drawn on over the feet while the wearer is in a recur'nbent position. 5 After the appliance has been placed in proper positiomthe leg straps P, P are passed'around the inside of the legs l'lil and respectively fastened to the buckles g lVith theappliance thus in position, straps 7' ando are drawn through the buckles g and 9' thereby tightening sections a and b of belt B. When adjusted to the proper degree, the strap-gripping members k and m of buckles g and are actuated to positively retain said straps in their adjusted positions by moving the extensions of said strap-gripping members into engagement with their respective snap members i and n Due to the fact that the horizontal portions of straps j and 0 are spaced one from the other in a substantially vertical plane, pressure is applied tothe padded support Z over a substantialarea toforce said support toward the body of the wearer. This result would notbe attained if only one strap were utilized to tighten sections a and r b of belt B.

"Thereafter, whenstraps-b and (Z are drawn toward the front of the wearer through the' buckle e sections we and n of outer belt B will. be tightened andlthe ends lil back of the wearer, an outer substantially inelastic belt comprising two substantially duplicate sections, adjoining ends of which are secured at or adjacent the ends of said inner belt, means for tightening said inner belt, and adjustable means comprising a plurality of vertically spaced straps for moving theptree ends'of said outer belt toward each other whereby pressure is applied to saidpadded support for forcing the same toward. the body of the wearer.

7. A supporter comprisingan inner belt extending substantially around the body of the wearer and opening in the front, a padded support securedto said belt at the baclr of the wearer, an outer substantially inelastic belt comprising two substantially duplicate sections, adjoining ends of which are secured. at or adjacenttheends of said inner belt, means for tightening said inner belt, ad ustable means comgrising a plurality of vertically spaced ,strapsii or moving the free ends of said outer belt toward each other whereby pressure is applied to said padded support for forcing the same toward thebody of the wearer, said straps terminating in elongated webs lying adjacent and outside of said sections and passingin oppo.

site directions to the iront of the wearer, and means for retaining said webs in ad justed position.

8. A supporter comprising an inner belt extending substantially around the body of the wearer and opening in the front, a plu-- ing ends of which aresecured at or adjacent the ends of said inner belt, means for tightening said inner belt in a plurality of vertically spaced regions, overlying-folio of said padded supports and ad ustable means operative throughout substantially the width of said sections for tightening the same and tor biasinganother of said padded supports toward the body of the wearer. a

a 9. A supporter comprising an inner belt j extending substantially; around the" body of the wearer, a padded support securedto said inner belt substantially at the back of the wearer, an outer substantially inelastic belt extending around the body of the wearer and opening in the region occupied by saidpadded support, and In-eans for tightening said outer belt in {said region. r

1-0; A supporter comprising an inner belt extending substantially around the body of inner belt substantially at the baekof the wearerfan, outer substantially inelastic belt extending around thebody of the wearer and opening. in the region occupied by said a padded, support, and means comprising a pluralityofvertically spaced strap-s operating outwardly of said support for tighteningsaid outer belt. i a

12. A supporter comprising a main belt extending substantially around the body of the wearer and opening in the front, padded supports carried byf'saidbelt at the front andthe 'back of the wearer, means for closing said belt to force one of said supports toward the body ofthe wearer, a substantially inelastic outer belt carried'by said main belt,

andfmeans for constricting, said outer belt to force another support toward the body of the wearer. I V 

